Back to Work Safely: Guidance for Small Manufacturing

Guidance Document, 2nd edition

Back to Work Safely: Guidance for Small Manufacturing, Repair, and Maintenance Shops

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Version 1 | July 20, 2021

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Back to Work Safely: Guidance for Small Manufacturing, Repair, and Maintenance Shops, 2nd edition

Guidance Document

DISCLAIMER: These are meant to be general guidelines to help you re-open your establishment. Always follow local, state and federal laws and guidelines.

OverviewSmall manufacturing, repair, and maintenance shops and operations have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to limited or complete workplace clo-sures and restrictions on operation. Following indi-vidual state and local guidance, many workplaces are now fully reopening. Thus, there is a need for guidance on reducing the risk of transmission for both employees and customers. This document is in-tended to provide guidance and considerations for various types of small manufacturing, repair, and maintenance shops, such as:

• Plants that directly manufacture, package, and transport material and goods for market.

• Plants that manufacture parts, materials, and goods as parts that are sent to other manufactur-ers.

• Welding shops, mechanical shops, and small re-pair shops.

While the scope of these guidance documents does not cover workplace testing or vaccination guidance, please refer to state, local, and federal guidance on these topics, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s COVID-19 testing and vac-cine webpages.

As some restrictions have lifted and continue to be lifted, many uncertainties still remain. Employers and companies are faced with difficult questions that must be addressed as they reopen, resume normal operations, or continue normal operations, such as:

• How can we best protect the health and safety of our employees and customers?

• What communication is needed to keep everyone informed of the preventive steps being taken?

• What steps can we take to minimize the risk of dis-ease transmission?

• What training is needed for our employees?

• What health and safety measures do we need to take regarding new virus variants?

• What do we do if an employee or customer has test-ed positive for or is suspected to have COVID-19?

• What do we do if an employee or customer is sick or not following guidelines?

• How do we handle high-traffic crowd manage-ment throughout the workplace, including during peak times?

• How do we deal with cleaning and disinfecting high-contact surfaces, such as check-in desks, computer keyboards, and door handles, regularly during the day?

• What can on-site vendors do to minimize COVID-19 transmission?

In addition to the questions asked by employers and companies, employees and customers are also thinking of ways that they can protect themselves.

The current scientific evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is spread primarily by airborne transmission, through expo-sure to respiratory aerosols or droplets in the air that carry the virus. These respiratory aerosols and drop-lets are generated by the human respiratory system during normal activities, including breathing, speak-ing, shouting, singing, coughing, and sneezing. Expo-sure to these respiratory droplets in poorly ventilated or crowded indoor spaces is particularly of concern, and infection can occur through exposure to mucus membranes, such as the eyes, nose, and mouth. In addition, while not the primary route of exposure, people may also become infected from touching sur-faces contaminated with the virus. It has also been shown that the virus can survive in aerosols for hours and on surfaces for days, depending on the type of surface. Measures can be taken to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 from person to person or by contact with potentially contaminated surfaces.


https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html





Guidance Document


The purpose of this guidance document is to provide clear and actionable steps towards the safe oper-ations of small manufacturing, repair, and mainte-nance facilities through prevention, early detection, and control of COVID-19. This document offers prac-tical guidance for small manufacturing, repair, and maintenance shop employers to implement multiple layers of risk mitigation strategies through the hier-archy of controls, a system used to minimize or elimi-nate exposures to hazards. The hierarchy of controls ranks hazard control approaches in order of most ef-fective to least effective—through the elimination of a hazard, substitution of a hazard, use of engineering controls, use of administrative controls, and correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Specif-ically, to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19, the controls we focus on in this document are en-gineering controls, such as ventilation; administra-tive controls, such as physical distancing, enhanced cleaning and disinfecting practices, and personal hy-giene; and PPE, such as gloves and face coverings. Aside from the hierarchy of controls, we also focus on mitigation strategies to use within restrooms and on contact surfaces, employee wellness, training, waste and laundering, and communication. No sin-gle mitigation strategy will be sufficient to address COVID-19 health and safety risks; rather, a multi-layered risk management approach using controls, which can include vaccines, is recommended to limit the spread of COVID-19.

It is important to continue to monitor the global (World Health Organization or WHO), federal (CDC), state, and local guidelines for changes or updates in recommendations, disinfection strategies, work-er protections, and other COVID-19 risk manage-ment best practices. It is also important that small manufacturing, repair, and maintenance shops con-sistently monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented mitigation strategies and alter their approaches as needed.

Any relaxation or modification of the recommenda-tions herein (e.g., based on employee vaccine status) should be based on and comply with federal, state, and local requirements, as well as best practices.

What should an Employer do to reduce risk for themself, their employees, and their customers? Employers are encouraged to continually monitor global (WHO), federal (CDC), state, and local guide-lines for changes or updates in recommendations, disinfection strategies, worker protections, and other COVID-19 best management practices. Employers should also consider developing a knowledgeable team to monitor, assess, and implement new strat-egies as they become available and as knowledge evolves regarding SARS-CoV-2 transmission, vac-cines, new virus variants, and other aspects of the virus.

Employers are also encouraged to complete a task-based risk assessment or job hazard analysis to best determine, by job task, where engineering or admin-istrative controls can be implemented to reduce or eliminate virus transmission. Refer to the OSHA Job Hazard Analysis document.

Due to the wide variety of types and sizes of buildings and spaces, it may not be possible for all companies or employers to implement all of the following guide-lines. However, implementing as many as possible through a multilayered risk management approach can help reduce health risks and risk of transmission.

Ventilation• Keep heating, ventilation, and air conditioning

(HVAC) systems operational to maintain thermal comfort and maximize outdoor air based on sys-tem design.


https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha3071.pdf





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– Strive to maintain the relative humidity at 40-60%.

– Refer to AIHA’s Indoor Environmental Quality document.

• If you need assistance on HVAC issues, ask an HVAC professional and see ASHRAE’s COVID-19 preparedness resources for more information. – AIHA occupational and environmental health

and safety (OEHS) science professionals and in-dustrial hygienists are also well-versed in gener-al dilution ventilation. AIHA has a consultants list of such qualified professionals.

• Consider using portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration units with variable flow control or other ventilation-related engineering controls to accommodate differing room sizes and ventila-tion needs. Refer to AIHA’s Indoor Environmental Quality document for more information. Consider whether the noise produced by these units when they are turned on is appropriate for the particular application.

• If fans, such as pedestal fans or hard mounted fans, are used, take steps to minimize air blowing from one person directly at another individual. If fans are disabled or removed, it is important to remain aware of and take steps to prevent heat hazards. – Be mindful of using portable pedestal or over-

head ceiling fans, as these may contribute to the spread of the virus.

• Use natural ventilation by opening windows and doors to increase airflow, if possible.

Enhanced Cleaning and Disinfecting Practices• Consider developing a standard operating proce-

dure, checklist, or audit system to consistently train employees on enhanced cleaning and disinfect-ing practices or to track when and how cleaning and disinfecting is conducted, including cleaning and disinfection of spaces previously occupied by

someone confirmed to have had COVID-19. Refer to AIHA’s guidance document on workplace clean-ing for COVID-19. – Make Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for cleaning and

disinfection products available and ensure em-ployees are aware of the hazards of use. Incor-porate new hazards into the existing OSHA Haz-ard Communications Program.

– Use disposable wipes or rags when available. Ensure reusable rags are maintained, handled, and cleaned per manufacturers’ instructions. For more information, see the “Laundering” section below.

– All items should be allowed to dry thoroughly af-ter cleaning.

– Establish a disinfection routine and ensure disin-fection protocols follow product instructions for application and contact time.

• Select appropriate disinfectants.– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

has developed a list of products that meet EPA’s criteria for use against SARS-CoV-2, EPA List N.

– Do not mix different EPA-registered chemicals together. The combination could be toxic by in-halation. Be particularly careful when using any products containing ammonia, sodium hypochlo-rite (bleach), or hydrogen peroxide.

– Review product labels and SDS and follow man-ufacturers’ specifications for cleaning and disin-fecting.

– Allow for appropriate ventilation during cleaning and disinfecting.

• Provide appropriate signage regarding cleaning and disinfecting measures being taken, if needed.

• Ensure any commonly used items and high-touch surfaces (e.g., tools, equipment, pens, and desks) are cleaned and disinfected on a frequent or regu-lar basis and after each use or shift.


https://aiha-assets.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/AIHA/resources/Guidance-Documents/Reducing-the-Risk-of-COVID-19-using-Engineering-Controls-Guidance-Document.pdf


https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/resources

https://www.aiha.org/consultants-directory



https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure

https://aiha-assets.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/AIHA/resources/Guidance-Documents/Workplace-Cleaning-for-COVID-19-Guidance-Document_FINAL.pdf


https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/about-list-n-disinfectants-coronavirus-covid-19-0




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– Temporary spaces, such as site or job trailers, should be cleaned and disinfected daily.

– Disinfect eating areas hourly or as frequently as possible.

• Consider consulting an occupational and environ-mental health and safety (OEHS) science profes-sional or industrial hygiene expert if additional ad-vice is needed. AIHA has a consultants list of such qualified professionals.

• The employer should evaluate the workplace to determine the most appropriate application meth-od for disinfection. Please refer to EPA’s guidance on the use of different methods for applying disin-fectants to learn more. – Currently, CDC does not recommend fogging, fu-

migation, or wide-area or electrostatic spraying as a primary method for surface disinfection in most cases. Refer to CDC’s COVID-19 webpage on cleaning and disinfecting facilities.

Personal Hygiene• Establish a “before and after work” handwashing

or sanitizing protocol for all employees. • Provide handwashing stations or, if not feasible,

touch-free automated hand sanitizer dispensers at high-traffic locations (e.g., at the front of the estab-lishment, at exits, near elevators, and outside re-strooms). These should contain hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol. – If providing neither a station nor a dispenser is

feasible, then at a minimum, consider providing hand sanitizer at high-traffic locations. This sani-tizer should contain at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol.

– Provide hand sanitizer in vehicles, such as fork-lifts, and at workstations.

– Post signs at each hand sanitizer station to en-courage proper use and illustrate proper hand sanitizing techniques.

• Avoid handshake greetings.Physical Distancing• Physical distancing can help limit transmission.

Employers should follow all local, state, or federal physical distancing requirements.

• Modify or adjust workstations and break areas to minimize close contact (e.g., within six feet or less for a cumulative 15 minutes over a 24-hour period) of employees with other employees, customers, and others, when possible.

• Use methods to physically separate employees and customers in the facility (e.g., break rooms and entrance and exit areas), when possible. – Use visual cues (e.g., floor markings, signs, and

markings on tables) to encourage physical dis-tancing.

– Reduce chairs in areas such as breakrooms to dissuade workers or customers from gathering.

– Space chairs or workstations at least six feet apart. Use barriers, such as screens, when possi-ble.

– Be mindful that barriers can disrupt ventilation and airflow.

• Reduce the number of individuals on the site to only essential employees needed to complete the work.

• Reduce tasks requiring a large number of people to be in one area.

• Create teams that work together on different tasks to limit the potential of transmission.

• Consider holding weekly virtual safety or toolbox talks through TEAMs, VTC, WebEx, or other pro-grams or in small groups. Reduce all-hands meet-ings when possible. Consider limiting meetings to 10 people or less, depending on the size of the room where the meeting will be conducted. – Have only one person note attendance.


https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/can-i-use-fogging-fumigation-or-electrostatic-spraying-or-drones-help-control-covid-19

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/disinfecting-building-facility.html




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• Reduce the number of people in company-owned vehicles or organized van pools.

• Post signs around the facility as reminders to main-tain physical distancing at all times.

Face Coverings• Face coverings can help limit transmission. Em-

ployers should follow all local, state, or federal face covering requirements.

• Cloth or disposable non-medical face coverings are NOT PPE but do offer some protection to wear-ers and others. Use of face coverings is not a sub-stitute for physical distancing, use of engineering controls, cleaning and disinfecting, proper hygiene, or staying home while sick.

• Train employees on the proper way to maintain, wear (covering both the nose and mouth), handle, and clean face coverings, as discussed by CDC. Refer to the graphic below and to CDC’s guidance on how to wear masks.

• Encourage employees to wear cloth or disposable face coverings at all times, particularly when phys-ical distancing cannot be maintained.

• Encourage employees to wear cloth or disposable face coverings if using public transportation to get to work. Refer to CDC’s guidance on safe use of public transportation during COVID-19.

• Additional information on cloth face coverings can be found in CDC’s guidance for using masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Restrooms• Post signage limiting restroom occupancy, to allow

for proper physical distancing, and to remind cus-tomers and employees to wash their hands before and after using the restroom.

• Minimize touchpoints when entering and exiting restrooms, if possible. – If the door cannot be opened without touching

the handle, provide paper towels and a trash can by the door so that a paper towel can be used when touching the handle and then discarded.

– Consider controlling access to bathrooms with a key so that disinfection measures can be better managed. If a key is used, consider disinfecting it after each use.

• If possible, allow doors to multi-stall restrooms to be opened and closed without the handles being touched.

• Place signs as reminders to close toilet lids (if pres-ent) before and after flushing.

• Use no-touch faucets, towel dispensers, soap dis-pensers, and waste receptacles, when possible.

• Hand soap should be readily available for use by occupants.

• Provide paper towels in restrooms.– Refer to AIHA’s guidance document on using

hand air dryers during COVID-19 for more infor-mation.

• If feasible, work with HVAC professionals to ensure that bathrooms are well ventilated and, if filtration is used, that proper filtration practices are being followed.

• Increase frequency and efforts to keep bathrooms clean and properly disinfected and maintain a re-CREDIT: CDC


https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-wear-cloth-face-coverings.html


https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/using-transportation.html



https://aiha-assets.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/AIHA/resources/Guidance-Documents/SupplementforUseofHandAirDryersduringCOVID-19_GuidanceDocument.pdf

https://aiha-assets.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/AIHA/resources/Guidance-Documents/SupplementforUseofHandAirDryersduringCOVID-19_GuidanceDocument.pdf




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cord of sanitary work practices. – Take precautions when cleaning or maintaining

sinks and toilets (i.e., avoid creating aerosols, close toilet lids before flushing, and use dispos-able gloves).

Waste and Laundering• Single-use items and used disinfection materials

can be treated as regular waste, following regular safety guidelines.

• Any reusable cloth materials should be washed and dried on the highest temperature setting al-lowable for the fabric.

• When handling dirty laundry, wear gloves and a mask and do not shake.

• Clothes hampers or laundry baskets, if used, should be cleaned according to manufacturers’ in-structions.

• Wash hands after handling dirty laundry.Training• Provide awareness training to employees on clean-

ing and disinfection products used in the work-place, following OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standards. – For employees who will use cleaning and dis-

infecting products, training should also include proper use, PPE, disposal, and relevant precau-tionary measures.

• Provide instruction and training to employees on how to correctly maintain, handle, wear, clean, and dispose of cloth or disposable face coverings.

• Provide appropriate training and education for all PPE, including reusable and disposable gloves.– NOTE: If an employer chooses to provide or the

employee supplies their own N95 respirator, please fully consider all the potential OSHA re-quirements.

– Use videos and in-person visual demonstrations of proper PPE donning and doffing procedures, while maintaining physical distancing during these demonstrations.

– Emphasize that care must be taken when putting on and taking off PPE to ensure that the worker or the item does not become contaminated.

– PPE should be: (1) disposed of; or (2) properly disinfected and stored in a clean location when not in use.

– Stress hand hygiene before and after handling all PPE.

– Correct maintenance on handling, wearing, cleaning, and disposing of PPE.

• Make SDS for cleaning and disinfection products available and ensure employees are aware of the hazards of use. Incorporate new hazards into your existing OSHA Hazard Communication Program.

• Implement and inform employees of supportive workplace policies, as applicable. – Provide flexible sick leave policies consistent with

public health guidance. Providing paid sick leave is important to encourage employees to stay home when sick.

– Refer to CDC’s guidance for businesses and em-ployers regarding COVID-19 test results from employees.

– Offer employees the flexibility to stay home to care for sick family members.

– Implement human resources policies consistent with public health guidance and state and fed-eral workplace laws. For more information on employer responsibilities, visit the Department of Labor and Equal Employment Opportunity Com-mission websites.

– Provide employee assistance programs and community resources to help employees manage stress and receive support.


https://www.osha.gov/hazcom



https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html


https://www.dol.gov/


https://www.eeoc.gov/coronavirus





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– Offer special accommodations upon request for employees at increased risk for severe illness, to allow them to perform their job duties safely while also protecting sensitive employee health information.

• Post signs and reminders at entrances and in stra-tegic places to provide instructions on hand hy-giene, respiratory hygiene, and cough etiquette. Include signs with images for non-English readers, as needed.

• Train employees on new or modified working schedules, how they can stay up to date on new scheduling requirements, and how to make re-quests for schedule changes if a need arises.

Other Control Measures• Employees and customers should be encouraged

to stay home if they are symptomatic.• Ask that customers cancel or reschedule any

non-emergency service if they are COVID-19 pos-itive, have been in contact with someone who is COVID-19 positive, or are living with someone ex-hibiting symptoms of COVID-19.

• Employers are encouraged to explore work-from-home options, staggered work shifts or hours, and other flexible approaches for employees, as appli-cable. – Stagger breaks to reduce the number of people in

break areas.• If customers must stay at the facility while work is

being performed, encourage outdoor seating.• Stop employees from walking floors, walking be-

tween floors or through buildings unnecessarily to reduce cross-contamination from employees in dif-ferent environments.– Consider wearable technology, such as proximi-

ty devices worn on hard hats or wrist bands, to monitor employee physical distancing and help with contact tracing.

• Eliminate nonessential visits, such as job tours and vendor demos. Essential visits should be done in a dedicated, isolated space, if available.

• Establish an isolated area for all delivery compa-nies to drop off materials and supplies. Require delivery and shipping personnel to wear cloth or disposable face coverings and gloves when arriv-ing at the site.

• For jobs requiring close contact with other indi-viduals, determine whether PPE is required for the employees.

• If employees commute to work using public trans-portation, consider asking them to: – Use other forms of transportation, if possible. – Maintain physical distancing and wear cloth or

disposable face coverings. – Commute at off-peak times, if possible. – Wash their hands before their trip and as soon as

possible after arriving. • Educate employees on recognizing the symptoms

of COVID-19 and provide instructions on what to do if they develop symptoms.

• Although perhaps not necessary if handwashing protocols are rigorously followed, consider provid-ing disposable gloves to employees, especially for cleaning and disinfecting, removing waste materi-als, and cleaning the restrooms. – If gloves are worn, change them regularly; wear-

ing gloves is not a substitute for handwashing. – If worn, inspect gloves frequently. Remove or re-

place any gloves that are torn, damaged, or con-taminated.

• Plan for employee absences by developing flexible attendance and sick leave policies, plan for alter-native coverage, and monitor and track employee absences related to COVID-19.





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• Emergency and disaster plans should be reviewed to account for COVID-19 protocols.

• Stay informed of local and state COVID-19 infor-mation and updates in your geographic area.

Communication• Communication and training should be easy to un-

derstand, in languages preferred to be spoken or read by employees, and include accurate and time-ly information. – Methods for communicating with employees

could include emails, texts, automated phone calls, websites, and signage.

• Adopt a communication strategy that is custom-ized to your organization and emphasizes trans-parency. – Communicate to employees and customers what

is being done to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., disinfection routines, health policies for staff, and health and safety measures in place).

– Establish formal and informal routes of com-munication for employees to express concerns, questions, comments, and feedback.

• If the workplace is in a multi-tenant location, or if there are multiple contractors on site, consid-er establishing a communication pathway with other tenants to inform each other of confirmed COVID-19 cases present in the building. – Communicate ventilation concerns and response

with other tenants (e.g., HVAC systems can be shared by multiple tenants and therefore adjust-ing the system in one area may have negative effects in another area).

Employee Wellness• Communicate to employees the importance of be-

ing vigilant when monitoring their personal health symptoms and contacting their employers or man-agers if or when they start to feel sick.

• Revisit your sick leave program to allow for time off and follow all HR policies and HIPAA or other regulatory requirements.

• Conduct employee temperature screenings and wellness checks before each shift. (NOTE: Comply with OSHA’s Access to Employee Medical and Exposure Records Standard for confidentiality.) – Temperature screening methods can include a

manual thermometer (use non-contact infrared thermometers) or thermal camera meeting FDA recommendations. Additional screening informa-tion and guidance can be found on CDC’s web-site.

– Assign an employee to manage and conduct temperature screenings while following CDC guidelines. If this is not possible, employees can self-check their own temperatures.

– Screening should be done in a manner such that the privacy of employees is respected.

– Perform visual inspections for other signs of ill-ness (e.g., flushed cheeks, rapid or difficulty breathing without recent physical activity, fa-tigue, or coughing).

– Employees with fevers of 100.4 degrees Fahren-heit (38 degrees Celsius) or above or other signs of illness should not be admitted into the facility.

• Employers can consider incorporating a wellness questionnaire similar to CDC’s general screening survey. However, we encourage checking your re-gional health department websites. For example, there is a personnel screening form available on the San Francisco Department of Health’s website.

• Refer to CDC’s guidance for businesses and em-ployers regarding employees who have symptoms or signs of COVID-19 (i.e., fever, cough, or short-ness of breath) or who have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

• If an employee tests positive for COVID-19:




https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/non-contact-temperature-assessment-devices-during-covid-19-pandemic


https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/general-business-faq.html


https://www.cdc.gov/screening/paper-version.pdf


https://www.sfdph.org/dph/alerts/files/C19-07-Personnel-Screening-Attachment-A-1.pdf






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– Follow federal, state, and local recommenda-tions for reporting and communicating cases while remaining compliant with regulations and guidelines pertaining to protecting private health information, such as confidentiality required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). See OSHA for guidance on reporting workplace ex-posures to COVID-19.

– Engage HR immediately and enforce all applica-ble HR rules and regulations.

– Follow federal, state, and local recommendations for any individuals that had close contact with the employee.

– Use trained personnel to perform enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of any surfaces that the employee may have come into contact with. o Encourage the trained personnel to wear face

coverings and gloves, dispose of their gloves after use, and wash their hands and faces when complete. Visibly dirty surfaces should be cleaned using a detergent or soap and wa-ter PRIOR to disinfection.

– For disinfection, use only EPA-registered disin-fectants on List N.

• Encourage employees who are sick to stay home. This includes: – People with flu-like symptoms or who live with

someone with these clinical symptoms. – People with COVID-19, people who live with

someone with COVID-19, or people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

• Employers are encouraged to educate employees on recognizing the symptoms of COVID-19 and to provide instructions on what to do if they develop symptoms.

What should an Employee do to reduce risk to themself and customers? • Employees should evaluate their health continu-

ously; if they are sick, have a fever or symptoms, or have someone sick at home, then they should remain home. – NOTE: Employer HR policies, HIPAA guidelines,

and other laws should be followed at all times. • Disinfect shared equipment and high-touch sur-

faces and workstations frequently, after each use at least.– Do not share clipboards. Use a whiteboard in-

stead to demonstrate concepts to workers.– Do not share tools, if possible. When tools must

be shared, ensure they are cleaned and disinfect-ed before and after each use.

– All large, shared equipment and tools shall be cleaned before and after use.

• Maintain a clean cloth or disposable face covering. Replace frequently, if needed, and replace after contamination. – When wearing a face covering, ensure both your

nose and mouth are covered. – Change face covering if it becomes wet, dam-

aged, or contaminated.– Wash your hands before touching your face cov-

ering.– Wear a cloth or disposable face covering while

using public transportation.– Additional information on cloth face coverings

can be found on CDC’s website. (NOTE: Cloth or disposable non-valved face coverings primarily protect other people from SARS-CoV-2 exposures but can also protect wearers. When wearing a face covering, ensure both your nose and mouth are covered. Use of a cloth or disposable face cov-ering is not a substitute for physical distancing.)


https://www.osha.gov/coronavirus/standards



https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html




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– Have extra face coverings on hand.• Maintain good hygiene practices by washing your

hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol. For more information, re-fer to CDC’s handwashing guidelines.

• If you are an employee who tests positive for COVID-19, or who has come in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, follow CDC’s guide-lines.

• At a minimum, wash your hands after interacting with each customer; after being in a public place; after touching your face covering; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; after using the restroom; after touching any common contact sur-faces; and before eating. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

• Wash your hands when you arrive at work, throughout the day during various activities (e.g., before eating food and after handling garbage), after touching your face covering, when you leave work, and when you arrive home.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands. Immediately wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Learn more about coughing and sneez-ing etiquette.

• Let your employer know if you have concerns about PPE or face coverings that may be provided to you and ensure that you are properly instructed on how to use them. CDC has recommended sequences for donning and doffing PPE. – NOTE: If an employer chooses to provide an

N95 respirator, please fully consider all the po-tential OSHA requirements.

Worker RightsThis document presents and supports workplace protections that are essential components of occu-pational health and safety systems and programs. These basic protections are worker rights, as well as essential ingredients of occupational health and safety systems.

What can a Customer do to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19?• Comply with instructions regarding COVID-19 pre-

cautions set forth by the facility, including but not limited to physical distancing requirements and use of face coverings.

• Evaluate your own health and your family’s health continually. If you are sick, stay home. If you have an elevated temperature, stay home. If someone you live with is sick, stay home. If you have aller-gies and uncontrollable sneezing, stay home.

• Check with the facility, prior to going, regarding any current requirements for customers to follow specific to COVID-19.

• Use online and electronic services in place of in-person services, if feasible. – If you anticipate needing to complete paperwork,

consider filling this out at home prior to your visit or bringing your own pen.

• Wear a cloth or disposable face covering as you enter and leave the buildings and while indoors.

• Wash your hands before and after you leave the building, if possible, especially if touching common high-touch surfaces. If not feasible, use hand san-itizer that contains at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol when you enter and before you leave the building.

• If using public transportation to get to and from the facility, wash your hands when you enter and before you leave the building. If not feasible, use


https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/hand-hygiene.html



https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/etiquette/coughing_sneezing.html





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hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% ethanol or 70% isopropyl alcohol.

• Maintain a distance of at least six feet from other customers and employees when walking through the building, whenever possible.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw used tissues in the trash. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow, not your hands. Immediately wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Learn more about coughing and sneez-ing etiquette.

ResourcesAIHA: Effective and Safe Practices, Guidance for Custodians, Cleaning, and Maintenance Staff Guid-ance Document

AIHA: Employers’ Guide to COVID-19 Cleaning and Disinfection in Non-Healthcare Workplaces Guid-ance Document

AIHA: Joint Consensus Statement on Addressing the Aerosol Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and Recom-mendations for Preventing Occupational Exposures

AIHA: Reducing the Risk of COVID-19 Using Engi-neering Controls Guidance Document

AIHA: Worker Rights White Paper

AIHA: Workplace Cleaning for COVID-19

ASHRAE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Re-sources from ASHRAE and Others

CDC: COVID-19 – Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility

CDC: COVID-19 – COVID-19 Testing Overview

CDC: COVID-19 – General Business Frequently Asked Questions

CDC: COVID-19 – Guidance for Businesses and Em-ployers Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

CDC: COVID-19 – How to Wear Masks

CDC: COVID-19 – Manufacturing Workers and Em-ployers

CDC: COVID-19 – Protect Yourself When Using Transportation

CDC: COVID-19 – Use Masks to Slow the Spread of COVID-19

CDC: COVID-19 – Vaccines for COVID-19

CDC: Facilities COVID-19 Screening

Department of Labor: Coronavirus Resources

EPA: Can I Use Fogging, Fumigation, or Electrostatic Spraying or Drones to Help Control COVID-19?

EPA: List N

FDA: Non-Contact Temperature Assessment Devic-es During the COVID-19 Pandemic

OSHA: Access to Employee Medical and Exposure Records

OSHA: Hazard Communication Standards

OSHA: Heat

OSHA: Job Hazard Analysis

OSHA: Recording Workplace Exposures to COVID-19

OSHA: Safety Management – Recommended Prac-tices for Safety and Health Programs

San Francisco Department of Public Health: Attach-ment A-1 – Personnel Screening Form




https://aiha-assets.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/AIHA/resources/Guidance-Documents/Effective-and-Safe-Practices-Guidance-for-Custodians-Cleaning-and-Maintenance-Staff-Guidance-Document.pdf



https://aiha-assets.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/AIHA/resources/Guidance-Documents/Employers-Guide-to-COVID-Cleaning-and-Disinfection-in-Non-Healthcare-Workplaces-Guidance-Document.pdf



https://aiha-assets.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/AIHA/resources/Fact-Sheets/Joint-Consensus-Statement-on-Addressing-the-Aerosol-Transmission-of-SARS-CoV-2-Fact-Sheet.pdf





https://aiha-assets.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/AIHA/resources/White-Papers/Workers-Rights-White-Paper.pdf






https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html







https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-manufacturing-workers-employers.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-manufacturing-workers-employers.html
















https://www.osha.gov/heat-exposure



https://www.osha.gov/safety-management/hazard-identification

https://www.osha.gov/safety-management/hazard-identification






Guidance Document


U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: Coronavirus and COVID-19

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws




https://www.eeoc.gov/wysk/what-you-should-know-about-covid-19-and-ada-rehabilitation-act-and-other-eeo-laws






Guidance Document


| backtoworksafely.org Periodically scan this QR Code to check if any new versions of AIHA’s guidance documents have been posted, as well as to find guidance documents for other businesses and industries.

Disclaimer

AIHA is not legally responsible and shall be held harmless from all claims, causes of action, and demands, whatsoever, any third party may incur on account of damage, loss or injury resulting from adhering to these guidelines.

These guidance documents were primarily developed for those smaller business that don’t have readily available occupational health and safety resources, and designed to help business owners, employers, employees and consumers

implement science-backed procedures for limiting the spread of the coronavirus. They are subject to any local, state, or federal directives, laws, or orders about operating a business and should only be used if they do not conflict with any such orders.

These documents are subject to revision and shall be updated accordingly.

AIHA makes no representations or warranties of any kind concerning its Copyrighted Material, either express or implied, including without limitation any implied warranties of merchantability, title, infringement or fitness for a particular purpose. AIHA shall be indemnified, defended and held harmless by all third parties and their directors, officers, agents, employees and assigns, and anyone authorized by any of them, from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses and damages,

including reasonable attorneys’ fees, caused by or arising wholly or in part from the use of the Copyrighted Material.


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